Bowinn Ma

Bowinn Ma
MLA
Bowinn Ma in 2016.
Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink of British Columbia
Assumed office
July 18, 2017
Preceded by Position Created
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for North Vancouver-Lonsdale
Assumed office
May 9, 2017
Preceded by Naomi Yamamoto
Personal details
Born July 25, 1985 (age 33)
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
Political party New Democratic Party
Residence North Vancouver, British Columbia
Alma mater University of British Columbia
Profession Professional Engineer
Bowinn Ma in 2017.

Bowinn Ma is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election.[1] She represents the electoral district of North Vancouver-Lonsdale as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party caucus.[1] She also serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink,[2] as a member of the provincial Treasury Board,[3] as a member of the Cabinet Housing Working Group Committee,[3] a member of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts,[4] and as the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.,[5]

Ma is the youngest member the current of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and the Canadian born daughter of Taiwanese immigrants.[6] Ma, Katrina Chen, and Anne Kang are the first MLAs of Taiwanese heritage to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.[7]

Background

The Canadian-born daughter of two Taiwanese immigrants, Bowinn started her working life with the Pacific National Exhibition at the age of 15, where she worked in a variety of part-time jobs to support herself through university. She has also worked as a geological technician and labourer in the central Yukon and was at one point enrolled with the Canadian Armed Regular Forces.

Ma graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in civil engineering, which included a focus in transportation, and then from the UBC Sauder School of Business in 2009 with a Master of Management degree.[8] She is currently a Professional Engineer registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia as well as a Project Management Professional.[9] She served as an engineer and project manager at Vancouver International Airport prior to her election.[9][10]

Prior to becoming involved in provincial politics, Ma led grassroots efforts against Bill C-51 after publicly challenging Justin Trudeau on his support for the bill during a public Q&A event at the University of British Columbia.[11][12]

A former student politician, Ma was only the fourth female president of the notorious UBC Engineers, and played a prominent role in the reform of the organisation.[13][14] Created in 2008 in honour of Ma's contributions to the organisation, the Engineering Undergraduate Society of the University of British Columbia awards the "Bowinn Ma Award" annually "in recognition of exceptional dedication, service, and self-sacrifice by an individual in completing their duties, both within and beyond the purview of their position".[15][16]

Provincial Politics

Election

Defeating two-term BC Liberal Cabinet Minister Naomi Yamamoto, rookie candidate Ma is the first New Democrat to win a seat on the North Shore since David Schreck in 1991.[1] The North Vancouver-Lonsdale upset result is often credited in part to increased turnout from Squamish Nation voters and the political mobilization of the Iranian-Canadian community, both of which strongly favoured Ma.[17][18]

After BC NDP leader John Horgan was asked by Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon to form government on June 29, 2017, Ma was considered a favorite for the Executive Council of British Columbia, but ultimately failed to receive a cabinet posting and was instead appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.[19][20]

Work as MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale

Upon being elected as MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, Ma created the Bowinn Ma MLA Social Justice Scholarship: three $500 community scholarships, awarded to one graduating high school student each from Carson Graham Secondary, Sutherland Secondary and the Squamish Nation. The scholarship is aimed at graduating high school students enrolled in a post-secondary institution who have demonstrated a commitment to social justice and overcome barriers or disadvantages in their life.[21]

Transportation

Ma campaigned heavily on the issue of transportation during the 2017 election.[22] Ma hosted and moderated a "Traffic Sucks!" forum in February 2017, during which Ma said housing affordability is a key factor when it comes to traffic congestion.[23] Ma also campaigned on "increased investment in public infrastructure as a means of producing jobs, boosting the economy, and ensuring that the province is able to meet the needs of its businesses and residents long into the future" and expanding BC's rapid transportation network "as a way of providing a long-term solution to traffic congestion in the North Shore and throughout the Lower Mainland and as a key component of a sustainable transportation model for a growing province".[24]

Since being elected in 2017, Ma has focused largely on the issues relating to transportation. On July 18, 2017 Ma was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink, working under the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson. [25] Her main job as Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink is overseeing the transit authority as it goes through a critical phase of expansion.[26] The NDP has already committed to funding 40 per cent of the TransLink Mayors' Council vision, which includes another SeaBus and 10-minute service, a B-line bus from Phibbs Exchange to Dundarave and an increase in regular bus service.

Ma was also selected to serve as the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. Led by Ma, the all-party committee produced a unanimous report on February 15, 2018, making 32 recommendations for establishing a provincial regulatory regime to govern transportation network companies providing ride-hailing services.[27][28]

Ma initiated the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project in 2018 and now serves as its Chair.[29] The Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project aims to enable greater cross‐jurisdictional collaboration to provide an integrated transportation approach for the North Shore that is environmentally progressive, values safety, and improves the movement of people and goods through both short and long-term solutions. Major partners in the project include the City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, TransLink, Government of Canada, Government of BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Squamish Nation.[30][31]

Electoral record

British Columbia general election, 2017: North Vancouver-Lonsdale
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticBowinn Ma12,36145.45
LiberalNaomi Yamamoto10,37338.14
GreenRichard Warrington4,14815.25
LibertarianDonald N.S. Wilson3161.16
Total valid votes 27,198100.00
Source: Elections BC[32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ma claims North Vancouver-Lonsdale for the NDP. North Shore News, May 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ Metro Vancouver mayors have high hopes for new NDP TransLink boss, The Vancouver Sun, July 18, 2017
  3. 1 2 Cabinet Committees, BC Government Website, Dec 1, 2017
  4. ↑ Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts Membership, BC Legislative Assembly Website, Dec 1, 2017
  5. ↑ Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations Membership, BC Legislative Assembly Website, Dec 1, 2017
  6. ↑ Prominent Chinese Canadian calls on B.C. parties to create Asian caucuses. The Georgia Straight, April 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ Taiwanese Canadian leader describes election of three B.C. MLAs as historic milestone, The Georgia Straight, June 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ Alumni Spotlight: Bowinn Ma, UBC Engineering, Jan 2015
  9. 1 2 Bowinn's background
  10. ↑ On Approach With Three Amazing Engineers at YVR, YVR, Feb 27, 2015
  11. ↑ Anti-terror opponent wants more accountability from Trudeau, CKNW, March 5, 2015
  12. ↑ C-51 Viva, Animal Voices, April 10, 2015
  13. ↑ Secrets of the Notorious Red Car, University of British Columbia, May 1, 2008
  14. ↑ British Columbia 2017 Election: North Vancouver-Lonsdale, CBC, April 10, 2017
  15. ↑ EUS Appreciation Awards, UBC Engineers, Retrieved Aug 8, 2017
  16. ↑ 2017 Engineer's Ball Awards, UBC Engineers, Retrieved Aug 8, 2017
  17. ↑ Squamish Nation voters help NDP rookie Bowinn Ma win B.C. riding, The Globe and Mail, May 11, 2017
  18. ↑ 3 under-reported stories from the B.C. election, The Georgia Straight, June 17, 2017
  19. ↑ Mike Smyth: NDP MLAs hope for seat at cabinet table, The Province, July 8, 2017
  20. ↑ John Horgan's cabinet sends message that experience matters, CBC News, July 20, 2017
  21. ↑ "Meghan Ingborg receives first Bowinn Ma MLA North Van Community Scholarship". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  22. ↑ North Shore candidates target traffic for votes, North Shore News, April 25, 17
  23. ↑ Traffic sucks! Dozens turn out for a transportation forum in North Vancouver, News 1130, February 25, 2017
  24. ↑ Bowinn Ma Campaign Priorities
  25. ↑ Metro Vancouver mayors have high hopes for new NDP TransLink boss, Vancouver Sun, July 18, 2017
  26. ↑ "New North Vancouver MLA to oversee TransLink". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ Transportation Network Companies in BC, Legislative Assembly of BC, February 15, 2018
  28. ↑ Ride-hailing report shows road forward for regulation in B.C., CBC News, February 15, 2018
  29. ↑ SULLIVAN: Could our traffic snarl finally turn into a smile, North Shore News, January 19, 2018
  30. ↑ North Shore Transportation Planning Project, TransLink, January 16, 2018
  31. ↑ North Shore traffic woes get provincial support from local MLA, CBC News, January 9, 2018
  32. ↑ "2017 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". Elections BC. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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